The 2021 Mourvèdre is another archetypal example of the variety from Andremily, where winemaker Jim Binns manages to polish what can be a naturally rustic variety into a shining, sapphire-like expression. Bottled on August 26 and tasted on October 25, it shows the elegance and juiciness that is characteristic of a cooler growing season. It's explosive and electrically blue on the nose, with incredibly pure aromas of blueberry candy, violet, juniper and accents of coffee beans, warm chocolate, aniseed and grilled Wagyu beef—it continually unfurls to reveal new scents with each return to the glass. The palate is just as impressive with its balance of concentrated, fragrant fruit, fireworks of fresh acidity and finely chalky tannins, and it has a tremendously long, perfumed finish. The 2021 is blended with 12% Syrah, and fruit comes from Andremily's new Slide Hill estate vineyard, plus the Alta Mesa Vineyard and White Hawk Vineyard in Santa Barbara County. It was vinified using 75% whole clusters and matured around 21 months in 50% new French barriques and 600-liter demi-muids. 500 cases were made, which will be sold as part of a three-bottle box set for $330. A few magnums were also made, which will be sold as part of a two-bottle set with the 2021 No. 10 Syrah.

The 2021 Mourvedre, tasted as a barrel sample, is composed of 88% Mourvedre and 12% Syrah coming from Alta Mesa, Slide Hill and White Hawk vineyards. It will spend 21 months in 50% new French barriques and a 600-liter demi-muid, with the other 50% in used French barriques. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts with black fruits, dried herbs, garrigue, and crushed rocks with hints of tar and an emerging waft of violets. The full-bodied palate is jam packed with vibrant black fruit and earthy nuances supported by grainy tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long. Around 500 cases will be bottled in August 2023.

The 2021 Mourvedre starts out tight and closed yet has a pretty, nuanced style in its blueberry and strawberry fruits as well as sandalwood, candied orange, iron, and peppery, spicy nuances. Full-bodied on the palate, it builds beautifully with time in the glass and picks up more varietal meatiness, has solid tannins, perfect balance, and a great finish. A beautiful Mourvèdre, it will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and, I suspect, have at least two decades of overall longevity. (96-98)